Physalin B & Physalin F yang terdapat dari Golden Berry dipercaya dapat berfungsi sebagai immunomodulator dengan cara meningkatkan kemampuan makrofag dalam tubuh dan menghambat produksi Nitric Oxide.

Objectives: We have previously demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of physalins, secosteroids purified from Physalis angulata. Here we investigate the antileishmanial activity of physalins in vitro and in vivo in a model of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: The antileishmanial activity of physalins B, D and F was tested in Leishmania-infected macrophage cultures. For the in vivo studies, BALB/c mice were infected with Leishmania amazonensis subcutaneously in the ear pinna and treated with physalin F by topical administration.

Results: Physalins B and F were able to reduce the percentage of Leishmania-infected macrophages and the intracellular parasite number in vitro at concentrations non-cytotoxic to macrophages. More importantly, topical treatment with physalin F significantly reduced the lesion size, the parasite load and histopathological alterations in BALB/c mice infected with L. amazonensis.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the potent antileishmanial activity of physalins, especially physalin F, and suggest these molecules as the basis for the development of new therapeutic options for cutaneous leishmaniasis.